Furniture



JV. HowSoN. FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 7| 192i.

1,411,660, mmm-(1MM, 1922.

JOHN HOW'SON, 0F HAMILTON, ONTABO, CANADA.

FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters atent.

Application filed March 7, 1921. Serial No. 450,377.

To all coito/m, t may conce/rfa.'

Be it known that Jol-1N Howson, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Hamilton, in the county of lllentworth and Province of Ontario, Canada, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in furniture, of the class of desks, tables, stands and all office and household fixtures, having a fiat table top capable of being hingedly secured to their bodies, `and consists essentially of a body containing one or al plurality of partitioned compartn'ients comprised of permanent bottoms and sides, a lid to the compartments adapted to be used as a desk or table top hingedly secured to said body, and locking means for said lid which are secretively located.

The invention has for its primary object to provide an ofiice or household fixture of the class designated, having secret compartments adapted for containing valuables of any description, and having means for obscuring said compartments from view and for secretly locking them so as to appear as an ordinary fixture in order not to attract, as a place of security, the attention of anyone of pilfering intent.

A further object is is to provide an article of the class described which will be simple, durable, eiiective and inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with other objects, may be attained by the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended,

With reference to the drawing:

Figure l, is a perspective view of the present invention as adapted to an ofiice desir;

Figure 2, is a perspective view ofthe invention as adapted to a library table;

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the lock compartments; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tray removably located in one of the compartments.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A indicates that portion of a desk or table composed of four permanent side pieces above the legs of a table or drawer section of a desir, and supporting the top B.

In carrying` out my invention l provide a permanent bottom 2 which encloses this space which has heretofore been bottomless. The top B is hingedly secured by means of butts 3 preferably to the rear side piece of the fixture, as shown. This enclosure may be compartmented if desired by the partitions t which compartments may be of various sizes and proportions to accommodate various papers and articles. C is a tray which may be inserted in any of said compartments.

A loclr 5, preferably key controlled, is provided iush with the interior surface of the forward side piece, the bolt of which engages a corresponding catch flush with the bottom surface of the top `or lid B. c

Access is had to the said loch through a hinged trap door 7, in the bottom 2. This door is retained in normally closed position by the spiral coil springs 8, and may be reached and 'forcibly opened by inserting the hand beneath the bottom 2. The key hole of the loclr 5 is located by sence of touch.v In the case of a desk having the usual central drawer 9 above the leg space, the drawer must. first be opened to admit the hand through the door 7.

In order to augment the retaining properties of the key controlled lock 5, I provide a pair of spring bolts l0, having penetrating engagement with holes 1l, in the lateral side pieces A, as shown. The bolts are controlled by pull chains or cords l2 which communicate with a ring 13, for example, located within the trap door compartment and reached in the same manner as the lock 5. c

Having now fully described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In an article of manufacture of the class described, the combination with a supporting body, of a compartment member permanently mounted upon said supporting body and composed of bottom and sides, a cover top hingedly secured to said compartment member, a cover locking device disposed within said compartment member, and a trap door in the bottom of said compartment member affording' access to said locking device.

2. In an articleof manufacture of the Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

posed within said compartment member, and

a trap door in the bottom of said compartment member affording access to said locking device.

3. In an article of manufacture of the classv described, the combination with a supporting body, of a compartment member permanently mounted upon said supporting body and composed of bottom and sides, a

cover top hingedly secured to said compart- Y ment member, a cover locking device disposed within said compartment member, a

trap door in the bottom of said compartment member affording access to said locking device, and spring controlled bolts cooperating to augment the retaining properties of said locking device.

In testimony vWhereofl have affixed my signature. Y

JOHN HOWSON. Witness: H. G. HENDRY. 

